Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Hampstead Heath that provided an update on areas of Tree Safety Management such as tree risk management guidance, tree inspections process, tree incident reporting, and tree health.

Members were advised that one quarter of the 25,000 trees across the North London Open Spaces Division were found in the 28 hectares at Highgate Wood. It was not practicable to inspect every single one of these trees as there was not sufficient resource to do this. An inspection process based on risk assessment and priority zoning was used at Highgate Wood.

In response to a member’s question, the Highgate Wood Conservation and Trees Manager advised that there were 60-70 incidents of tree failure each year amongst the stock of 25,000 trees. An external risk audit was carried out by a qualified Tree Safety Consultant.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.